How to chose a lightweight quilting sewing machine for my wife???
 

Hello- I am a quilters husband and need help to chose a lightweight sewing machine for my wife of 48 years who is having trouble lifting and transporting her Janome 3000 to quilt meetings/classes etc. I would really appreciate some expert opinions on what to purchase for her Birthday in April...so far I have researched the Janome mechanical jem 660 and the computerized Janome dc1050....I would like to get her a light weight machine that works well on quilts...then maybe she can better convert her substancial stash and UFO's to quilts ha ha ...any and all comments would be appreciated....Dave Murray, Cape Cod MA

All quilters seem to love featherweights, the vintage Singer model 221 machines. They are lightweight, reliable, sew a wonderful stitch, and cute as a button. They're usually available on craigslist and eBay. However featherweights sew only a straight stitch. That's all you need in *most* classes.

I have friends who have the Janome Gem just for the purpose of traveling to quilt meetings/classes and they have been very happy with it. I've thought of getting one myself when my machine becomes too much to handle.

I like my Janome gem. It helps a lot to get a rolling-foot case to go with it,one with room to put her stuff,so she won't have to take too many trips. I have found that folks are quite helpful,and if I ask for help,someone will lift the machine off and onto sewing tables. You get the husband of the year award!

Janome Jem gets my vote also. I have one to take to my daughters when I cat sit. And it is cheaper than a Featherweight. I carry it up 3 flights of stairs with no problem.

I have both a Featherweight and a Janome Gem. The Gem is my traveling machine as I would hate to have anything happen to the Featherweight. The Gem has been been inspected by TSA, dropped from an overhead bin, left in a rental car trunk and it's still working like a champ. A rolling case is an absolute must have and JoAnn's will have a couple of choices. I got tired of gathering up my tools every time and now have a separate set of everything which is always kept in the rolling case. I use a cosmetic bag to hold the travel set of pins, bobbins, rotary cutter, scissors, snips, seam gauge, thread, etc.
You are a real sweetheart to get her a travel machine. Wish her a happy birthday from all of us on the Quilting Board.

Any of the low end brothers do a good job. I have the brother SQ-9050 for my classes and travel that I love. The brother cs6000i is also a very popular model. I think you can get both at walmart. I got mine at walmart a year and half ago and it has been the best little machine I have had, plus it comes with all the quilting accessories you need. I think the cs6000i doesn't come with all the accesories that the SQ-9050 does. You get your walking foot, your FMQ foot, and your 1/4 inch foot with the SQ-9050. Also the SQ-9050 just makes the most beautiful buttonholes. I enjoy mine and highly recommend it

I think you need to be nominated for the BEST HUSBAND OF THE YEAR!!

How sweet that your getting advise on a machine.

Has she ever mentioned that there might be one whe would like? Has she test driven any?

I know that I look a lot but have never mentioned to my DH that I would want another machine. But like most ladies - it is fun to look and dream.

I've heard great things about Featherweights and the Janome Gem.

Definitely the Janome Gem. It can do everything a quilter needs. Besure to get the one with the quilter's package, the attachable table and different feet. I have the Janome Gem and several Feather Weights but I think this would fit the need better because you can only do straight stich on the vintage FeatherWeight. The Janome Gem does also an awesome quilting stich for the actual quilting. Several of my friends have this machine as their main machine and never invested in a full size machine since they did not see the need for it. that is how good a job the Janome Gem did for them.

Do not have one but the Janome gem sounds like a good machine. You sure are one great husband!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a Janome Gem and love it, three of my quilting buddies just bought the dc1050 and all of them are raving about it. All are lightweight and used to take to quilting classes or our weekly group meetings. The dc1050 has features the Gem doesn't have that are really nice and it doesn't cost much more. Don't forget to buy the quarter inch foot to go with it.

Hi Annaquilts- thanks for your reply- I had so many nice responses....wondered if you had any more info on the quilters Package for the gold jem 660??? I did ask about a walking foot and was told they were about $50??? How do I find a table? that will fit? Dave Murray

This is where the art of negotation comes in. Tell the dealer that you are ready to buy if he will throw in the 1/4 inch foot (and anything else you might want). If he lets you walk out the door you know you have gotten his lowest price. I have the gem platinum and found the best price for the extension table made by Sew Steady online from Dreamworld Inc whose price was less than Sew Steady's.

this is probably not the answer you want------------but ask her. I know I'd want what I want, not what someone else wants----------so give her a promissory note for her birthdasy that says you'll buy whatever she wants--------just let you know.

[QUOTE You get the husband of the year award![/QUOTE]

I don't know much about what machine to suggest but I totally agree with this statement! Not only are you planning to get her something she will like but you are taking the time to find out about it and even signing up on this board to get some input.

I agree with GrannieAnnie. Get your wife's input. Give her a homemade gift certificate then let her pick it out.

I remember one of my cousins was really upset at her husband when he surprised her with a new car. It was a stick shift and she only knew how to drive an automatic. It stalled out on her in an intersection and she got out of it and refused to drive it ever again. I know - extreme case but you get the idea.

I also agree that you are a sweet heart for wanting to get her a lighter machine.

LOL, different strokes for different folks--------------I'd love a straight shift-------and the more it looked like a sports car, the better. 66 year old body in a 16 year old car frame of mind!

I have both a featherweight and the Jem and I wouldn't give either up. You can't go wrong if you get either one for her.

I own a Janome Gem and heartily support that machine - 12 pounds, does everything,etc. ANother reason to consider the Janome is that the feet she already has for the larger Janome should fit the smaller one - so there's no reason to buy all the extra feet unless you/she decides to have a duplicate set. Elna machines use the same feet as Janome, but I don't know if they have a light weight machine.

I agree. This is so considerate of you. I've also heard good things from the Janome Gem. I now own Janome machines and am very, very pleased with them.

I have the Brother cs6000i..bought it on sale at Joanns..it came with all the feet,and is great to take to all my classes. For the money it's a great machine! I quilt everything from a table runner to a king size quilt on it!

Instead of you choosing a machine, let her choose it. Go to dealers, check out machines. Since she is the one who will be using it, let her decide. There have been several women on this board whose husbands had picked out a new sewing machine. While the ladies loved their husbands for giving them a new machine, the actual machine that they were given,they didn't like them so much. Imagine your wife picking out a new tool for you. While she would have only the best intentions, you might not like the new tool so much. A new sewing machine has to fit the new owner. If it doesn't, it probably won't get used as much. Just a thought.

If she already has a Janome, I would suggest another Janome. Feet are interchangeable, similar set up, etc. I had a Janome 6500 and needed something lighter for classes. I bought a Janome 3160. It is a great machine and has many of the bells and whistles other Janomes do. Lightweight...love it.

I had both the Janome Jem 720 and the Janome Jem Platinum 760 that I bought specifically to take to classes because I could no longer haul my Brother mechanical, it was just too heavy. The only difference between the 2 was the 760 had more stitches, the 720 just had the basic stitches. I sold the 720, only because I really didn't need 2 machines for classes. I now also take my 760 on the plane with me whenever I travel. Both are great machines, I also invested in a Sew Steady table for the machine, it's just a nice little "perk" that provides an extended bed for the machine.

Not sure if this is the correct way to post a reply to my own post????Many thanks to all who offered their thoughts on purchasing a lightweight machine for my wife's birthday...I am amazed and thankful for the responses....many of the responders felt that I should wait and let my wife pick out what she wants, and I understand your point...however, I wanted the new machine to be a 68th birthday surprise! I do know that she is interested in the lightweight Janome's.....and due to your ideas, I will make sure that whatever machine I get can be returned/exchanged for another...Because we have been married for so long, it is quite difficult to think of unique gifts for each other, but I still try hard to find something that will surprise and thrill her....I think this will do it!!! Again, thanks so much for your kind responses....Dave Murray, Cape Cod, MA

Featherweights have passed the test of time. And I have yet to see any machine make a nicer stitch, in my humble opinion.

Oh to have a featherweight! What joy that would be. I prefer the vintage machines hands down regardless of what model. However, if you are going to get a new one, a little Janome gem is a dandy. I have one and enjoy it.

As I do not own a new machine, I cannot offer advice on one.
That said, when going to a class or retreat, I always drag my Featherweight, Violet, along with me. She loves to travel.

Your wife is a lucky lady to have a husband like you!! Whatever machine you get her, you may want to look into a rolling cart for a toolcase instead of buying one from Joann Fabrics. Their carts are not exactly cheap, even if on sale. I found a really neat simple rolling cart (for toolcases) at Harbor Freight and I used the 20% off coupon. It was on sale, too. The side may not zip down as it does for the sewing machine cart, but it will do fine for a lightweight machine.

This idea gets my vote too. We all like or could recommend whatever machine WE like but it may not be what she would want. You would still get kudos from her just for coming up with idea all on your own BUT she will be truly happy if SHE is part of the decision making process - just my humble opinion.

I use ONLY a cast iron 1941 Singer "portable".....and love it. Weighs a ton but when I do manage to take it places, I love all of the great comments and the love that it gets from the other quilters. Having had this experience, I'd recommend getting a Featherweight. She'll be the envy of every class and it does what you need for classes, which is to sew a straight stitch and not mess up. (But----having read all of these posts, I will look at Janome Gems. Thanks for your post!)

I agree - I have the Janome Jem - a brilliant little workhorse !! You can drop the feed dogs and get a darning foot
for free motion quilting. Also the machine has stop/start button, length and width slider, speed adjust button and needle down function, you can purchase several extra feet including a walking foot and many more - has quite a few stitches and best of all very lightweight. I am starting a machine quilting course soon and have no hesitation to take it to the class !
Good luck.

So sorry JT to disagree here - a Jem is a LOW shank and my 6600 is a high shank - therefore some feet do fit - but not all. Hope you didn't mind be pointing that out ! Kind Regards.

What a trooper you are! It's great to be looking out for your DW's comfort. But I have one more suggestion: How about learning to do a few quilting tasks, thus helping her with her stack of UFO's and also being a quilting companion to her.:) I wish my DH were more interested in the process BUT, in the meantime, I'll bet you'll get good advice from the quilter's here. Good luck!

You will not go wrong with a small Janome! I have a big 6600 and a med. and a Jem for classes!!!!

Yes, please involve your wife in the choice of machine. She will probably want special features like needle down, automatic needle threader, etc. etc. useful especially to quilters. Give her a spiffy homemade gift certificate and be her chauffer (sp) for the day and let her make the choice while you smile and nod! You'll never regret it!

If you can afford the Jem Plantinum (760), I'd recommend that you buy that one. It's a great machine.

I bought a Janome My Style and it ways about 12 pounds. It does not come with a 1/4 inch foot but you can purchase one. It is a great little machine and easy to carry. All of her feet should fit it as well. The one that I bought happened to be on sale.

Don't. Let her pick it herself.